Pilot Study to Evaluate Targeted Physical Activity Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: 36-session targeted physical exercise program delivered twice weekly.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Physiological Reactivity to Cues, Physical Exercise. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Pilot Study Evaluating the Impact of Targeted Physical Activity Among Frail Pancreatic Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Overview
Patients with pancreatic cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy often experience functional decline, treatment interruptions, and clinical deterioration, and these risks may be amplified when frailty is present.
Detailed description
Patients with pancreatic cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy often experience functional decline, treatment interruptions, and clinical deterioration, and these risks may be amplified when frailty is present. Frailty is increasingly recognized as an important predictor of worse treatment tolerance and perioperative outcomes in pancreatic cancer populations, including higher postoperative complication risk.
The proposed targeted physical therapy program is a supervised, individualized physical activity program designed to improve strength and functional performance using low-intensity, resistance-based exercise training. In this proposal, the study will evaluate the effects of the targeted physical exercise program in frail pancreatic cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy by generating key data on feasibility and safety and by providing preliminary estimates of change in functional outcomes to inform the design of a future, adequately powered study.
Interventions
- Other 36-session targeted physical exercise program delivered twice weekly
Participant will be enrolled for approximately 18-20 weeks (about 4-5 months). This includes a baseline assessment, participation in a 36-session targeted physical exercise program
Primary outcome measures
- Recruitment rate [Time frame: 6 months]
- Retention rate [Time frame: 6 months]
- Adherence rate [Time frame: 6 months]
- Exercise-related adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) [Time frame: 6 months]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
- Functional endpoints (assessed at baseline and Session 36, and at interim sessions as specified in the protocol) Part 1 of 3 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Functional endpoints (assessed at baseline and Session 36, and at interim sessions as specified in the protocol) Part 2 of 3 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Functional endpoints (assessed at baseline and Session 36, and at interim sessions as specified in the protocol) Part 3 of 3 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Secondary patient-reported endpoints Part 1 of 3 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Secondary patient-reported endpoints Part 2 of 3 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Secondary patient-reported endpoints Part 3 of 3 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Clinical endpoints obtained from routine care data - Body composition [Time frame: 6 months]
- Clinical endpoints obtained from routine care data - CA 19-9 [Time frame: 6 months]
- Clinical endpoints obtained from routine care data- Albumin (g/dL) [Time frame: 6 months]
- Clinical endpoints obtained from routine care data - Creatinine (mg/dL) [Time frame: 6 months]
- Clinical endpoints obtained from routine care data- White blood cell count (mcl) [Time frame: 6 months]
- Clinical endpoints obtained from routine care data- Hemoglobin(g/dL) [Time frame: 6 months]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥18 years
- Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer that is potentially resectable per the treating clinical team's assessment.
- Planned to receive or actively receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery.
- Frail or pre-frail as defined by the protocol-specified frailty assessment tool (e.g., Fried Frailty Phenotype; pre-frail = 1-2 criteria; frail => 3 criteria).
- Able to provide written informed consent.
- Medically appropriate to participate in supervised, symptom-limited exercise as determined by study screening and, if indicated, the treating clinician's input.
- Able to complete study assessments and questionnaires in English or Spanish (using IRB- approved instruments/materials).
Exclusion criteria
- Adults unable to consent.
- Medical condition that, in the judgment of the investigator and/or treating clinician, makes exercise unsafe (e.g., unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, decompensated heart failure, uncontrolled severe pulmonary disease).
- Any absolute contraindication to exercise participation/testing per institutional standards.
- Severe symptoms or functional impairment that prevents safe participation despite program modification.
- Inability to comply with the intervention schedule and study procedures despite reasonable scheduling accommodations.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- University of Illinois Clinical Cancer Center — Chicago
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07647250 · 2026-0277